Top.



S'. R, GOPPINS.

TOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1912.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

Altomey:

I QOLUMEIA'PPANOGQAPH CO" WASHINGTON D. C.

SCOTT R. COPPINS, OF PRINCETON, ILLINOIS.

TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

Application filed April 19, 1912. Serial No. 691,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Soo'rr R. CorrINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county of Bureau and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys and particularly to a spinning top.

The object of my invention is to provide a top having a rotating wheel and a stem or handle adapted to be held in the hand of the operator While the wheel is caused to rotate.

A further object of my invention is to provide antifriction devices between the stem or handle and the wheel.

A still further object of my invention is to so construct the parts of my top that, when the same are assembled, it will be practically impossible to separate the same.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter made clearly apparent in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved form of top in position ready to be placedin operation. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the top. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through portions of the top, and, Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the manner of constructing portions of the top.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 is the rotating member of my top, which comprises a wheel, whichis preferably several inches in diameter. The wheel 5 is arranged horizontally and is provided with a centrally and vertically arranged bore 6 therethrough. The wheel 5 is provided with a downwardly extending sleeve 7 of relatively small diameter, which is provided near its lower end with a flange 8. The flange 8 is provided with the notch 9 in its circumference for a purpose hereinafter set forth. A groove 10 is formed in the upper side of the wheel 5 around the bore 6 and a similar groove 11 is formed in the end of the sleeve 7 and said grooves 10 and 11 are adapted to receive therein a plurality of ball bearings 12, or other desired antifriction devices.

The handle 13 of my device is provided with a reduced stem 14, which is of less diameter than the bore 6 and is adapted to extend theret-hrough. The portion of the handle 13 adjacent the stem 14 is tapered, as shown at 15, and said tapered portion is adapted to bear against the ball bearings arranged in the groove 10. After the ham dle 13 has been disposed in place, as shown in Fig. 3, the stem 14, which extends a slight distance beyond the lower end of the sleeve 7, is provided with a tip 16. The tip 16 is pointed and is provided with a bore 17 for the reception of the end of the stem 14. The bore 17 is of slightly less diameter than the end of the stem 14 so that it requires considerable power to force said point upon said stem. The upper end of said point 16 is circular in cross section and tapered, as shown at 18, and said tapered portion is adapted to bear against the ball bearings 12 in the lower groove 11. In practice the tip 16 is forced upon the stem 14, leaving sufficient space between the parts to allow free rotation of the wheel 5 with respect to the handle.

In practice all of the parts of my top are formed of metal and the wheel 5 is of considerable Weight so that when set in motion it will spin for a considerable time. When it is desired to spin the top, a string having a knotted end is placed with its end in the notch 9 with the knot below the flange 8 and the string is wrapped several times around the sleeve, the handle is then grasped in one hand of the operator and the string in the other and the string rapidly pulled from the sleeve. This will result in rapidly rotating the wheel 5 and the top may then be placed upon a smooth surface and will rotate for a considerable length of time due to the weight of the arts.

lVhile I have shown the preferred form of my invention, I desire it to be understood that certain modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a horizontally disposed wheel having a bore therethrough, an integral sleeve extending from one side of said bore, a flange at the end of said sleeve, a string engaging notch in said flange, a handle, a stem eX- tending from said handle and through said bore, and a tip at the lower end of said stem, said handle being rotatably mounted in said bore.

2. A device of the class described comprising a horizontally disposed wheel having a bore therethrough, a sleeve extending downwardly from said wheel, a flange at the lower end of said sleeve, a string engaging notch in said flange, a handle, a stem eX- tending from said handle and through said bore, a tip adapted to be forced on said stern, antifriction devices interposed between the upper end of said stem and the wheel, and anti-friction devices interposed between the lower end of said sleeve and said tip.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SCOTT R. COPPINS.

WVitnesses:

J. W. CODDINGTON, G. R. VVADDELL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

